Vocalion Records
1916-1940

Vocalion Records was founded by The Aeolian Piano Company of New York City in 1916, when some of the basic patents for records and phonographs began to expire. Like Brunswick, Aeolian had great craftsmanship skills and a reputation it could use for these new product lines. Combined with using the prestigious Aeolian Hall (a concert hall built by this same company in 1912) as its recording studio, it began issuing records the following year under the Aeolian-Vocalion name. "Vocalion" came from the Vocalion Organ Company, one of Aeolian's divisions. Ten and twelve-inch vertical-cut discs were issued using the common black shellac, some single-sided, until 1919 when the lateral-cut patent expired and became open to all.

Lateral-cut discs immediately replaced vertical but were made with reddish-brown shellac. The company advertised these as superior to the black variety but in reality they were slightly less durable. Ones in nice condition can sound great however and surpass the Big Three in many cases. "Aeolian" was soon dropped from the name as well. Vocalion attracted the usual phonograph artists that recorded for everybody like Billy Murray, Henry Burr and Ernest Hare. Yet, it also signed new big names like Fletcher Henderson, Ben Bernie and Gene Austin. It also scored some coups in the Classical field, especially with the Metropolitan Opera House Orchestra. Race, Country and Ethnic recordings were also well represented with up-and-coming talent.

The dawning of 1925 saw Vocalion owned by Brunswick and its output sharply declined afterwards. The label rarely pressed popular material anymore. Some Race, Country and Ethnic discs continued to be issued though. Both labels were bought by Warner Bros. in 1930 and leased to the American Record Corporation (ARC) in 1931. It used Brunswick as their premium label while Vocalion became a budget one until 1940, when Vocalion was changed to OKeh. However, OKeh continued to use Vocalion's catalog numbering system.

Encoded Speed: 192 Kbps


Vertical Recordings

12-Inch Records

Cavalleria Rusticana
Giulio Crimi
Vocalion 74000
Matrix# ? (illegible)
ca. 1918
Note: played at 75 RPM


10-Inch Records

Can You Tame Wild Women Every Day Will be Sunday When the Town Goes Dry
Billy Murray Billy Murray
Vocalion A12103 Vocalion B12103
Matrix# (illegible) Matrix# (illegible)
1919 1919
Note: played at 79 RPM


Lateral Recordings

10-Inch Records

Iko Miko Ver A Taten Hot
Aaron Lebedeff Aaron Lebedeff
Vocalion A13015 Vocalion B13015
Matrix# ? Matrix# ?
April 1924 ca. April 1924
Note: played at 78 RPM

Mammy's Good-Night Lullaby Swanee
Peerless Quartet Peerless Quartet
Vocalion A14087 Vocalion B14087
Matrix# 5920 Matrix# 5924
May 1920 May 1920
Note: played at 81 RPM Note: played at 82 RPM

Japanese Sandman Sweetie O'Mine
Crescent Trio Sam Ash
Vocalion A14102 Vocalion B14102
Matrix# 6162 Matrix# 6135
released November 1920 released November 1920
New York, New York New York, New York
Note: Scratches towards end.

Dolly Pitter Patter
All Star Trio Harry A. Yerkes' Dance Orchestra
Vocalion A14136 Vocalion B14136
Matrix# 6434 Matrix# 6466
ca. October 1920 ca. November 1920
New York, New York New York, New York

When You Look In The Eyes Of A Mule Strut Miss Lizzie
Ernest Hare Ernest Hare
Vocalion A14144 Vocalion B14144
Matrix# 6617 Matrix# 6615
ca. December 1920 ca. December 1920
Note: Worn.

I Call You Sunshine In The Devil's Garden
The Merry Melody Men The Merry Melody Men
Vocalion A14178 Vocalion B14178
Matrix# 7177X (?) Matrix# 7171X (?)
March 1921 March 1921
New York, New York New York, New York
Note: Worn. Note: Worn.

One Kiss Canadian Capers
Max Fischer's Dance Orchestra Ben Selvin's Dance Orchestra
Vocalion A14217 Vocalion B14217
Matrix# 7670 Matrix# 7809
released September 1921 released September 1921
New York, New York New York, New York
Note: Poorly recorded, volume blasting and variation.

Down At The Old Swimming Hole Nightmare Blues
Ernest Hare and Billy Jones Harmonizer's Quartet
Vocalion A14223 Vocalion B14223
Matrix# 7724 Matrix# 7721
July 1921 July 1921
Note: Worn.

The Sheik of Araby Georgia Rose
The California Ramblers The California Ramblers
Vocalion A14275 Vocalion B14275
Matrix# 8263 Matrix# 8266
November 17, 1921 November 17, 1921
New York, New York New York, New York

Granny (My mammy's mammy) While Miami Dreams
The Bar Harbor Society Orchestra The Bar Harbor Society Orchestra
Vocalion A14289 Vocalion B14289
Matrix# 8400 Matrix# 8395
December 1921 December 1921
New York, New York New York, New York

Homesick There's a Reason
Emil Coleman & His Montmartre Orchestra Emil Coleman & His Montmartre Orchestra
Vocalion A14445 Vocalion B14445
Matrix# 9729 Matrix# 9726
August 1922 August 1922
New York, New York New York, New York

La Tristeza De Pierrot Pensando En Ti
Max Dolin's Orchestra Max Dolin's Orchestra
Vocalion A14466 Vocalion B14466
Matrix# 10225 Matrix# 10222
November 1922 November 1922
New York, New York New York, New York
Note: Swish to end. Note: Swish at start.

Under The Double Eagle March 2nd Regiment Connecticut March
Lieut. Francis W. Sutherland and his 7th Regiment Band Lieut. Francis W. Sutherland and his 7th Regiment Band
Vocalion A14481 Vocalion B14481
Matrix# 10186 Matrix# 10263
November 1922 November 1922

My Buddy Flower of Araby
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
Vocalion A14494 Vocalion B14494
Matrix# 10554 Matrix# 10552
released March 1923 released March 1923
New York, New York New York, New York

Way Down Yonder in New Orleans You've Got to See Mamma Ev'ry Night (or you can't see mamma at all)
Gene Fosdick's Hoosiers Gene Fosdick's Hoosiers
Vocalion A14496 Vocalion B14496
Matrix# 10636 Matrix# 10525
released March 1923 released March 1923
New York, New York New York, New York

Peggy Dear Apple Sauce
Gene Fosdick's Hoosiers Gene Fosdick's Hoosiers
Vocalion A14503 Vocalion B14503
Matrix# 10635 Matrix# 10641
released April 1923 released April 1923
New York, New York New York, New York

Loose Feet The Great White Way Blues
The Original Memphis Five The Original Memphis Five
Vocalion A14527 Vocalion B14527
Matrix# 10746 Matrix# 10750
released May 1923 released May 1923
New York, New York New York, New York

Am I To Blame Think of Me
The Boardwalk Orchestra (Ben Selvin) The Boardwalk Orchestra (Ben Selvin)
Vocalion A14531 Vocalion B14531
Matrix# 10897 Matrix# ?
February 1923 February 1923
New York, New York New York, New York
Note: played at 78 RPM

Crying For You Swinging Down The Lane
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
Vocalion A14537 Vocalion B14537
Matrix# 10926 Matrix# 10923
February 1923 February 1923
New York, New York New York, New York

Wonder (If She's Lonely Too) Mad ('Cause You Treat Me This Way)
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
Vocalion A14599 Vocalion B14599
Matrix# 11540 Matrix# 11537
released August 1923 released August 1923
New York, New York New York, New York

Love Tales My Sweetie Went Away
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
Vocalion A14622 Vocalion B14622
Matrix# 11627 Matrix# 11626
June 1923 June 1923
New York, New York New York, New York

El Capitan Tenth Regiment March
Lieut. Francis W. Sutherland and his 7th Regiment Band Lieut. Francis W. Sutherland and his 7th Regiment Band
Vocalion A14666 Vocalion B14666
Matrix# 11418 Matrix# 11419
ca. 1923 ca. 1923

Blue Ridge Blues Susie Ann
George Reneau George Reneau
Vocalion A14815 Vocalion B14815
Matrix# 13114 Matrix# 13112
April 28, 1924 April 28, 1924
Note: played at 76 RPM

Barrel House Blues My Right Man
Rosa Henderson (piano accompaniment by Fletcher Henderson) Rosa Henderson (piano accompaniment by Fletcher Henderson)
Vocalion A14831 Vocalion B14831
Matrix# 13252 Matrix# 13254
May 24, 1924 May 24, 1924
New York, New York New York, New York
Note: Worn. Scuff from 1:51-2:21.
Note: Two hairline cracks 1/2-inch inward, not audible after filtering.

Somebody Loves Me Put Away A Little Ray Of Golden Sunshine For A Rainy Day
Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra
Vocalion A14854 Vocalion B14854
Matrix# 13405 or 13406 Matrix# 13403
ca. July 22, 1924
released October 1924
ca. July 22, 1924
released October 1924
New York, New York New York, New York

Lady, Be Good Tell Her In The Springtime
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
Vocalion A14955 Vocalion B14955
Matrix# 14068 Matrix# 14065
December 18, 1924 December 18, 1924
New York, New York New York, New York
Note: played at 79 RPM

Oh Katharina! Titina
Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Ben Bernie and His Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra
Vocalion A14979 Vocalion B14979
Matrix# 338W or 340W Matrix# 357W
February 6, 1925
released May 1925
February 13, 1925
released May 1925
New York, New York New York, New York
Note: played at 78 RPM

Isn't She the Sweetest Thing Are You Sorry
Ben Bernie and His Orchestra Ben Bernie and His Orchestra
Vocalion A15036 Vocalion B15036
Matrix# 796 Matrix# 792, 793 or 794
May 13, 1925 May 13, 1925
New York, New York New York, New York
Note: Needle dig for the first few seconds.


12-Inch Records

Silent Night, Holy Night
Marguerite D'Alvarez
Vocalion 52020
Matrix# 7619, Take 2
ca. June 1921
New York, New York

Aida Selection La Boheme Selection
Metropolitan Opera House Orchestra Metropolitan Opera House Orchestra
Vocalion A35046 Vocalion B35046
Matrix# ? Matrix# ?
released November 1924 released November 1924
Note: played at 76 RPM

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